Utilities across the globe supply thousands of users with electricity, gas and water for their daily activities. At work, while traveling or at home, all of us benefit from the existing infrastructure that brings the supplies directly to us.
Thanks to years of innovation, development and deployment of networks, the access to quick and reliable energy supplies is a general expectation by most part of the population. If you work in the industry, you definitely know. However, there is a constant challenge for you: the work done behind the scenes to ensure a seamless supply of energy is massive. To ensure the optimum function and effectiveness, introduce new technologies and keep up with regulation and trends.
In this article we briefly discuss energy management for utilities, your challenges and some opportunities to get closer to your clients. And we bring you the real example of the german utility Gelsenwasser, who saves energy thanks to our Platform.
Why is Energy Management important for Utilities?
Energy management for utilities is two-fold. On the one hand you have your own facilities, from offices to energy plants to manage. Those consume electricity, gas and water and need to be managed efficiently. On the other hand, you have your clients’ facilities. Those that you are supplying and who request that you provide an optimum service.
We could even say it’s three-fold, since you also need to maintain your infrastructure, integrate new sources such as renewables and comply with regulatory changes. All of these while making sure your customers are always connected and served is the main thing for you. And while ensuring income and revenues, of course.
That’s why in many cases you need to take one step further and offer more to your customers. Why? To retain them and open further sources of income.
And what do we mean by offering more? Offering not only the supply of electricity, gas or water. Providing further services, advice, greener products, etc.
There’s a chance you’re already doing that. We’ve spoken about it in the past, about how to be the energy manager of your customers. In our latest energy survey, for example, we found that many utilities are already offering some sort of energy management services to their clients. These range from mobility solutions to photovoltaics or energy certifications.
Here is where technology comes into place. To help you maximise your efforts, analyse results and deploy solutions faster. There are tools and solutions out there that you can rely on, including the Spacewell Energy Platform. And you can benefit from the use of AI solutions for energy management like discussed in this article.
And not just that. As a utility provider, in today’s society focused on being efficient and sustainable, you can lead by example. Implementing energy efficiency measures, reducing waste, sharing good practices, etc. And letting your clients know about it.
That’s what Gelsenwasser has done and what we’ll look into in the following section, as well as in the longer case study that you can download through the banners.
Reducing Energy: The case of Gelsenwasser
GELSENWASSER AG specialises in sustainable infrastructure and public supply infrastructure. They provide water and electricity to customers throughout Germany and have a strong focus on sustainability, mainly on environmental protection and resource conservation.
Gelsenwasser had been managing their energy consumption for years, gathering data and analysing their consumptions. However, they wanted a stronger tool to centralise those activities and help them be even more efficient. They tested their own solution but eventually decided to see what the market had to offer. And it was through our German partner Crem Solutions that they decided to try the Spacewell Energy solution.
This particular project was aimed at Gelsenwasser’s main facilities, in order to explore all the capabilities of the Spacewell Energy Platform. This is in line with their goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2035 and be more efficient in their use of energy.
Once the project started, the value was so clear that it has opened the door for their customers to benefit from the tool as well.
How? Download the case study to find more information, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to start using the Spacewell Energy Platform today.
